OMU CORONATION: IBUSA AGOG FOR OBI JOSEPHINE NWANNABUOGWU

By Emeka Esogbue

Like what looked like a newer form of unity, the people of Ibusa, a hilly, agrarian community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, stood still for Josephine Nwannabuogwu who was on Monday, coronated as the Omu of Ibusa. Indigenes of the community, as well as sisterly Anioma towns, started to arrive at Kefas Amusement Park, the venue of the ceremony inside Ibusa as early as 11.00 am but it was also the time, Josephine Isioma Nwannabuogwu the Omu Designate was seen in the train of Imanokwa group that moved in a stately and solemn order to the community's sacred ground for performance of some rites and rituals.

What followed was a grandeur reception ceremony that unveiled the beautiful and now powerful new Omu in splendour to the Ibusa and Anioma public. With the opening prayer said by Rev Fr. Hilary Nwadei from the community, and the breaking of the kola nut traditionally observed as customarily required, the reception ceremony became flagged off. Some important personalities present at the occasion took to the floor to give their speeches and they included Chief Kizito Ijeh, the Chairman of the planning committee, Chief Amaechi Nwaenie, the Uwolo of Ibusa, and Chief Charles Okonkwo, the Odogwu of Ibusa respectively.

Others who spoke at the event included Delta State House of Assembly aspirant, Chief Mrs. Shimite Bello, and Chief Hyacinth Enuha among others and they all praised the willingness of the new Omu to serve the community in that avenue while also encouraging her. Chief Uwolo went memory lane on the efforts and determination of the Uwolo Ruling House on ensuring the achievement of the feat. He also appealed for ceaseless counseling from Omu Okpanam/Anioma to see to a successful reign.

Nevertheless, it was the Omu of Okpanam/Anioma, HRM Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu who praised the Ibusa people for rallying around Obi Josephine Nwannabuogwu to emerge as the Omu of Ibusa and enjoined her to be courageous in representing the community well as a return of their honour.

"She is now a man, a mother of all, and an institution and no longer an individual," she told the guests.

In her maiden speech to the Ibusa people, Obi Josephine Nwannabuogwu stated that her reign would advance the Ibusa cause and also reposition the women of the community. She considered the event of her assumption to the prestigious female traditional stool, a glorious day for Ibusa women especially and the day of advancement of the traditional destiny of Ibusa while promising to use the institution as a tool to match other Anioma communities while acting as the voice of Ibusa women and a means to overcoming societal challenges of the same Ibusa women.

Women from the various quarters or what is typically known as 'ogbe' in the community also took time to sacredly intone the arena with some chants and also prayed for the successful reign of the new Omu which believed would usher in some measure of development for the women in the community.

Omuship is generally, an age-long traditional practice of the Anioma people, especially among the Enuani subgroup. According to Prof Michael Angulu Onwujeogwu, the late Professor of Anthropology also from the community, the institution is about 822 years in existence. The traditional office is also for life.

In attendance at the event were important personalities from the Anioma area, drawn from different walks of life.

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Emeka Esogbue

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